Nathan Key

The road to recovery is one that will be long and arduous for Hibriten senior Ashlyn Pope.

The 17-year-old softball and basketball standout for the Panthers suffered critical injuries last week when she and her father David were involved in a head-on collision with a driver who was operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Pope suffered multi-system trauma in the crash, which happened Oct. 22 near Hollow Springs Road in Kings Creek not far from the Caldwell/Wilkes county line.

Pope and her father David were returning from a pitching lesson she had in Clemmons that afternoon. They were traveling west on N.C. 18, not far from their home, in a Chevrolet Tahoe when they encountered a Chevrolet truck driven by Donald Jullian Ferko Jr. approaching them in their lane. David Pope swerved to avoid the oncoming vehicle but was unable to do so, and the vehicles struck head-on.

Ashlyn was pinned inside the vehicle, her body entangled in the debris of the Tahoe. It took firefighters from Kings Creek quite some time to free the teen, who later was flown to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. She's been there since that fateful night, undergoing multiple surgeries and dealing with plenty of pain.

"She's struggling," said Paula Pope, Ashlyn's mother. "I'm still not believing it happened. She's a 17-year-old who's never had a drop of alcohol in her life. A drunk driver hits her and walks away. That's tough to handle."

Already, Ashlyn has had surgeries on both legs and her jaw. Because her fractures are so bad and other internal issues are going on, doctors have not been able to keep her conscious and alert. She was kept asleep for several days after arriving at CMC, though she came to Tuesday.

"We think we had a miracle," Paula said. "She came to and wanted to know where we were and why were here. But she's still hurting so badly. She has broken so many bones. Seeing her deal with the pain is what's been so hard for us to go through. She's really a good kid, but she's hurting."

Despite the constant pain, which is alleviated somewhat by a pump that dispenses pain killers on a timed basis, Ashlyn still has been cordial to hospital staff.

"She thanked the nurses after a procedure even though it hurt her," Paula said. "They were amazed."

Ashlyn still faces surgery to her ankle and wrist, and she has been fitted for a brace to deal with two fractured vertebra in her back.

"Hopefully, if it's the Lord's will, she will get better," her mother said. "There's a lot of rehab to do if we get to that point, but if everybody will continue to pray, maybe that will help. We covet your prayers right now."

David suffered a broken arm and some other issues that he will have to see doctors about in the future, but he has not focused on himself, choosing instead to stand a constant vigil by his daughter's side.

"He's just concerned about Ashlyn," Paula said.

And many more people are as well. Students from Hibriten High School have sent numerous cards and letters, and there have been a number of visits paid to the family at the hospital. Paula went to the lobby to see one group and a little girl who had drawn some pictures gave them to her and asked if she would "give them to Pope."

"That was sweet," Paula said. "A lot of the students have been writing letters and sending them to us. It's been amazing to see how she has touched lives. As Ashlyn continues to recover, I hope those kids will keep cheering her on and be around. She's going to need them."

Hibriten Principal Lewis Wright stopped by CMC last week after the accident happened. While he was there he saw a number of girls' softball players of all ages from different schools there to show their support to someone they played with and against.

"There was just a lot of support for her, within a short period of time," Wright said. "I just thought that was awesome."

Wright said students and teachers at the school have been brainstorming for ideas and ways they can continue to show their support and love for the senior. They have decided to sell rubber bracelets with the phrase "Hope for Pope" on them for $1 each and give the money raised to the family to help with expenses.

"The kids want to do something; we have so many people wanting to help out, from here and other schools," he said. "I'm just humbled by what is taking place."

People wanting to follow Ashlyn Pope's recovery while she is hospitalized at CMC can do so by linking to www.ashlynpope.com to access a Web site called Caring Bridge (or www.caringbridge.org/visit.apope). Updates are provided, there is a guestbook, and people on the site can write messages and leave personal tributes to the Hibriten student.